Former king Mohammed Zahir Shah arrived back on Afghan soil today after 29 years in exile.
Mr Zahir Shah (87) stepped off an Italian military plane followed by interim cabinet chairman Mr Hamid Karzai and was greeted by senior tribal elders and ministers at Kabul's bomb-scarred international airport.
A military honour guard stood to attention as the former king walked across the tarmac over a red carpet.
Many of the turbaned tribal chiefs rushed to kiss Mr Zahir Shah's hand in greeting, as security agents tried to keep them from swamping the elderly former monarch.
His return from Italy for the first time since he was ousted in a coup in 1973 is seen as highly symbolic of Afghanistan's return to stability after more than two decades of war.
Mr Zahir Shah said he is not interested in resuming the throne and has been asked only to inaugurate a Loya Jirga, or grand assembly of tribal chiefs, in June to pick a transitional government.
AFP